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The Istana

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The Istana, the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. Its name means "palace" in Malay.

The Istana (Chinese: 总统府) is the official residence and office of the President of Singapore. Meaning "palace" in Malay, it is where the president receives and entertains state guests. It is located within a large open compound in the otherwise urbanised setting of the Orchard Road area.

The 106 acre (0.4 km²) estate was once part of the extensive nutmeg plantation of Mount Sophia. In 1867, the British colonial government acquired the land and built a mansion to be the official home of the British Governor. This continued until 1959 when Singapore was granted self-government, and the Governor was replaced by the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, who was in turn replaced by the President.

History

The frontal façade of the Istana, which once won accolades from its occupants, writers and visitors.

British colonial days

The Istana was built in 1867-1869 on the instructions of Sir Harry Saint George Ord, Singapore's first colonial governor. It was formerly known as Government House. Located within the same compound is Sri Temasek, one of several senior colonial officers' residences in the Istana previously assigned to the Colonial Secretary.

Sir Ord's desire for a stately Governor's residence arose from his dissatisfaction with the leased housing on Grange Hill and Leonie Hill that Governors had to make do with. An earlier governor's residence on Bukit Larangan (now Fort Canning), a flimsy timber structure, had been torn down to make way for the fort and was never replaced.

Ord's views were met with much resistance amongst his colleagues. To build a residence of palatial proportions and cost was deemed too extravagant. Ord stood his ground, however, and eventually acquired 106 acres of land from C.R. Prinsep's nutmeg estate in 1867. Construction began later in the year after the design was finalised on March 1867.

Disapproval of Ord's initial plans seemed to have evaporated by the time Government House was completed in 1869, as attested to in a report in The Straits Times on 24 April of that year, "Far better to have a handsome memorial of extravagance to stare us in the face, than a memeory of folly, in a half finished, or even badly finished work. Laying all prejudices aside moreover...it must be admitted that the building is a handsome one — the handsomest in a long way in the Settlement and one which will be an ornament to the place long after those who fought for and against it have passed away". It was completed just in time for visit by the Duke of Edinburgh.

The entire Government House, its grounds and auxiliary residences were built by convict labour — J.F.A. McNair supervisor for the construction of Government House, was also, conveniently, Superintendent of convicts. It was an impressive building and won accolades from its occupants, writers and visitors.

A swan lake on the grounds of the Istana.

A "nearly perfect" residence is how Sir Frederick Weld, Governor of the Straits Settlements and official resident there from 1880 to 1887, described it in a lecture at the Royal Colonial Institute in London. He said Government House was "...cool and airy, with a beautiful view of land and sea, and glimpses of the town and shipping through the trees, whilst landward, when the evening haze or the morning mist soften the outlines of the undulations, fill each little valley, and bring out the masses of dark trees, rising against the skyline, it would be hard to find a more perfect picture of repose in a richer landscape".

World War II

During the Japanese invasion of 1942, deliberate shelling destroyed the small ceremonial guns on the steps of Government House and left the building and its grounds in a state of ruin. Then Governor Sir Shenton Thomas and Lady Daisy Thomas loyally remained in Government House with their servants until the very last moments. When they finally evacuated, they took with them the Union Jack that had been flying in front of Government House and carefully kept it hidden throughout the Japanese Occupation. During the occupation, the house was occupied by Field Marshal Count Terauchi, commander of the Japanese Southern Army, and Major General Kawamura, commander of the Singapore Defense Forces.

Post-war

When Singapore attained self-rule in 1959, the building was handed over to the Singapore Government. It was then renamed the Istana. Yusof Ishak was appointed the first local head of state, the Yang di-Pertuan Negara, and took up office at the Istana.

The building was xtensively renovated between 1996 and 1998 to add more space and modern day conveniences. The building today has six function rooms used for ceremonial and entertainment purposes. The offices of the President and his staff are also located within the building.

Present

Since its first occupancy in 1869, the Istana has seen 21 terms of governorship (1869-1958), two terms of Yang di-Pertuan Negara (1959-1965) and six terms of Presidential occupation (since 1965), not to mention the Japanese occupancy between 1942 and 1945.

Today, the Istana is the official residence of the President of Singapore. The Istana building and its grounds are open to the public, on five selected statutory holidaysLunar New Year, Deepavali, Hari Raya Puasa, Labour Day and National Day. Other times, its grounds are often used for state functions and ceremonial occasions such as swearing-in, investitures and the presentation of credentials by heads of foreign missions. The Prime Minister has his office in the Istana Annex.

On the first Sunday of the month, there is a Changing of the Guards parade, which is a popular public event.

Architecture

The Istana Villa
The Japanese Gun on display in the Istana compound.

The Istana is similar to many 18th century neo-Palladian style buildings designed by British military engineers in India. It has a tropical layout, like a Malay house, surrounded by staquesque colums, deep verandahs, louvred windows and panalled doors, to promote cross ventilation. the central 3-story 28m high tower block dominates the building. The reasonably well proportioned two-storey side wings feature Ionic, Doric and Corinthian orders with Ionic colonades at the second story and Doric colonades at the first story. The building sits in the its elevated position overlooking its stately grounds, the Domain, reminiscent of the great gardens of England.

The grounds also contain:

See also

References

  • National Heritage Board (2002), Singapore's 100 Historic Places, Archipelago Press, ISBN 9814068233
  • Norman Edwards, Peter Keys (1996), Singapore - A Guide to Buildings, Streets, Places, Times Books International, ISBN 9971652315
  • President's Office, Istana, "The Istana"